Related Experiment Video

Updated: Oct 25, 2025

Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation
07:15

Determining the Likelihood of Variant Pathogenicity Using Amino Acid-level Signal-to-Noise Analysis of Genetic Variation

Published on: January 16, 2019

11.1K

Assessing the linear and non-linear association of HbA1c with cardiovascular disease: a Mendelian randomisation study

Shan Luo1, Shiu Lun Au Yeung2, C Mary Schooling1,3

  • 1School of Public Health, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, SAR, China.

Diabetologia
|August 4, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Genetically predicted HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) shows a linear, detrimental effect on cardiovascular disease risk, particularly coronary artery disease. This finding highlights the importance of glycemic control for heart health.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular disease genetics
  • Metabolic health and disease

Background:

  • Elevated HbA1c (glycated hemoglobin) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD).
  • The precise nature and shape of the genetic relationship between HbA1c and CVD risk require further elucidation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the causal effect of genetically predicted HbA1c on the risk of various cardiovascular diseases.
  • To determine the shape (linear or non-linear) of the association between genetically predicted HbA1c and CVD risk.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses, including univariable, multivariable, and non-linear approaches.
  • Employed a large dataset of 373,571 white British participants from the UK Biobank.
  • Adjusted for potential confounders such as hemoglobin levels in multivariable MR.

Main Results:

  • A 1 mmol/mol increase in genetically predicted HbA1c was associated with increased risk of coronary artery disease (OR 1.03), stroke (OR 1.02), and hypertension (OR 1.02).
  • Multivariable MR confirmed the association with coronary artery disease; associations with stroke and hypertension were directionally similar but less precise.
  • Non-linear MR analyses indicated a likely linear relationship between genetically predicted HbA1c and cardiovascular outcomes.

Conclusions:

  • Genetically predicted HbA1c has a detrimental, linear effect on coronary artery disease risk.
  • The observed association is mediated through glycemic characteristics.
  • These findings underscore the importance of glycemic control in preventing cardiovascular diseases.
Abstract

Keywords:
Cardiovascular diseaseHbA1cMendelian randomisationUK Biobanklinearity

More Related Videos

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes07:22

Glycemic Impact on Knee Osteoarthritis Symptoms on Physical, Radiographic, and Inflammatory Markers among Individuals Aged 50 and Over with Diabetes

Published on: March 7, 2025

458
Modeling and Evaluation of Murine Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Model06:22

Modeling and Evaluation of Murine Diabetic Cardiomyopathy Model

Published on: November 29, 2024

907

Related Concept Videos

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS01:11

Genome-wide Association Studies-GWAS

Genome-wide association studies or GWAS are used to identify whether common SNPs are associated with certain diseases. Suppose specific SNPs are more frequently observed in individuals with a particular disease than those without the disease. In that case, those SNPs are said to be associated with the disease. Chi-square analysis is performed to check the probability of the allele likely to be associated with the disease.
GWAS does not require the identification of the target gene involved in...
14.8K
Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding01:25

Strategies for Assessing and Addressing Confounding

Confounding is a critical issue in epidemiological studies, often leading to misleading conclusions about associations between exposures and outcomes. It occurs when the relationship between the exposure and the outcome is mixed with the effects of other factors that influence the outcome. Given that, addressing confounding is of high importance for drawing accurate inferences in research.
Confounding can be addressed at both the design phase of a study and through analytical methods after data...
184
Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction01:30

Coronary Artery Disease I: Introduction

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD): An Overview with Scientific InsightsCoronary Artery Disease (CAD), often referred to as C-A-D, is a prevalent blood vessel disorder classified under the broader category of atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a pathological process characterized by the hardening and narrowing of arteries due to the accumulation of atherosclerotic plaques. These plaques are composed of cholesterol, fatty substances, inflammatory cells, calcium, and fibrin, reducing blood flow to...
537
Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational01:22

Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational

Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
3.5K
Multiple Allele Traits01:49

Multiple Allele Traits

The Concept of Multiple Allelism
36.1K
Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches01:23

Types of Biopharmaceutical Studies: Controlled and Non-Controlled Approaches

Biopharmaceutical studies constitute a vital field aiming to enhance drug delivery methods and refine therapeutic approaches, drawing upon diverse interdisciplinary knowledge. In research methodologies, the choice between controlled and non-controlled studies significantly influences the study's reliability and accuracy.
Non-controlled studies, commonly employed for initial exploration, lack a control group, rendering them susceptible to biases and external influences. In contrast,...
207